Adding Scrivner to my Blogging Workflow

This past year I read a post on some site somewhere that demonstrated a method of using Scrivner for blogging and I was convinced – this tool was gonna be a valuable asset to my workflow. With versions for PC, Mac, and iOS Scrivner gives me a method for focusing when I write. I only use the Mac and iOS versions but they work well enough for me to get the job done.

Folder Structure

First off, I set up a project in Scrivner for my overall blog. Then I set up folders to track weekly posts and I was ready to go.

I put each post in it’s own subfolder and then broke each section into a separate text file. This is made real easy since I’ve already got my outline set up in MindManager

One of the key features I like about Scrivner is that it facilitates focus on the specific item I am working on. I can drill down directly to the post section and exclude distractions from other parts of the post.

And the best part is yet to come…

Compile Folder Contents

Once I get all my sections fleshed out in their own separate files I can use the wonderful feature of Scrivner to compile them all into a complete post. I can compile the folder as plain text or I can use Markdown to make formatting a post easier.

It’s really neat and makes any next phase of my workflow easy since I can just compile, and copy the post to the next step.

Build Templates

Another neat feature of Scrivner is that I can set up templates for different post types. I’ve got one for my comic reviews, one for my normal rambles, and one for my web chronicles.

As I plan out my editorial calendar I can set up my post structure using templates…it’s really easy when I know my Marvel Unlimited New Weekly Release posts are gonna happen on Monday and always involve the same segments. A template for something like this can be put together and duplicated 4 or 5 times to get the next month of posts ready for fleshing out.

Closing Thoughts

Since I started using it, Scrivner, has become another of the apps in my toolbox that I use on an everyday basis. For some reason, writing just seems easier with this app and I love how it keeps track of my word count. With each post segment in it’s own file, I can move things around easily and then compile them with a tap to see if the flow of the post feels better in different ways. I also like the idea that if, someday, I feel like writing a longer form text, I’m already used to the features of Scrivner and can easily transition by just adding more outlines, structures, and sections.

The only drawback is that this is a paid app and in similar fashion to MindManager, it’s not the cheapest word processing app out there. For me though, it’s worth every penny.

Road to Blaugust 2019 Day 3 | Adding Scrivner to my Blogging Workflow